No matter how much you loved your Mac when you bought it, chances are it doesn't perform the same way it once did.

A few years can take a noticeable toll on any computer, but luckily there are some tips and trips that can help bring it back up to speed.

Here are a few things to look out for that can make your overall Mac experience more smooth and efficient.

Check for software updates.

Often, software updates fix bugs and glitches that could be slowing your computer down. Check for any software updates that may be available for the version of OS X your computer is running on. You can do this by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left hand side and selecting Software Update from the dropdown menu. In most cases, your Mac will probably issue a desktop notification to alert you when an update is available.

Try restarting your computer.

It sounds obvious, but sometimes your laptop or desktop just needs a good restart to get back up to speed. Try restarting your computer before jumping ahead to other options.

Close unused tabs in your web browser.

Open tabs in web browsers do take up memory, even if it is a small amount. This can build up if you're the type of person that opens, say, 15 tabs on a daily basis and never closes them. Try to get into the habit of closing out tabs once you're finished using them.